Bruce Cassidy, a prominent coaching figure, is currently without a team after his departure from the Vegas Golden Knights before the season’s conclusion. Despite participating in the NHL on TNT panel during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Cassidy is eager to return to a head coaching role.
Speculation intensified on Tuesday following a report by Frank Seravalli suggesting that the Edmonton Oilers sought permission to interview Cassidy, but the Golden Knights withheld it. As previously reported by NHLRumors.com, the Oilers are not the sole franchise expressing interest in Cassidy.
The Los Angeles Kings are also reportedly keen on Cassidy’s services. While neither team has made an official coaching change, the Kings’ current coach, DJ Smith, holds an interim tag, implying a potential vacancy. Sources indicate that the Kings are interested and would consider Cassidy for an interview, with reports of initial contact last Friday.
However, according to Elliotte Friedman’s latest “32 Thoughts” podcast on Wednesday, neither the Edmonton Oilers nor the Los Angeles Kings have yet received permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with Bruce Cassidy.
“First of all, let me just give you the updated news as of late Tuesday night, when we recorded this pod, Kyle. I am under the impression that neither the Oilers nor the Kings have yet to be given permission to talk to Bruce Cassidy. So as I understand it, late Tuesday night, when we were doing this pod, it wasn’t just an Edmonton thing. I am under the impression that Kings have not yet been given permission to talk to him, either.
So, I do think there’s some semantics here. I think there’s some annoyance as it’s taken a bit longer than everyone thought. But from what I can tell, the answer is not a No. It’s just, I don’t know, delayed, dragging their feet, whatever you want. It’s not yet, It’s not Yes, yet. Delayed dragging your feet, whatever it is. There’s no doubt in my mind that he is the number one candidate available.”
Friedman further elaborated on this situation during his regular segment on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio’s Morning Skate with Gord Stellick and Scott Laughlin on Wednesday morning.
“As of last night, when we recorded the podcast, Vegas had not given either Edmonton or LA permission to talk to him, because one of the things I was curious about was that there were some reports yesterday, and I heard similar rumors that LA might have already interviewed Cassidy, and that would make it the whole thing even stranger.
But I was told last night that they don’t have permission to talk to him yet. That’s the best source I had told me that. So I don’t know exactly what’s going on here, and I have a feeling that eventually this will sort itself out. But as of yesterday, neither the Oilers nor the Kings had permission.”
While Jon Rosen previously stated that the Kings had already engaged in discussions, Friedman preferred not to engage in a dispute over accuracy, instead reiterating his understanding that neither team had secured permission to interview Cassidy.
This delay could be attributed to strategic maneuvering or procedural delays, but it is expected to be resolved. Friedman raised a potential theory from another executive: Vegas might be seeking assurance that they will not be responsible for any of Cassidy’s remaining salary. Cassidy reportedly earns around $4.5 million and has another year on his contract. The executive speculated that Vegas might want a guarantee that the hiring team would cover his entire salary, relieving Vegas of any financial obligation.
“The other thing I’ll say, and someone actually made an interesting argument about this, it’s a theory. He doesn’t know if it’s true, but this is another executive. He said, What Vegas could be waiting to find out here is, will they be guaranteed to be on the hook for no money next year?
I believe Cassidy makes around $4.5 million. He’s got another year under contract. But his curiosity was, he wondered if Vegas wants a guarantee that if Edmonton hire or LA hires them, they have to pay all of it. Vegas won’t have to pay anything. That’s purely a guess, but that was an educated guess.”
The Golden Knights, according to league precedent, would need a compelling reason to deny permission to interview Cassidy. Unless Cassidy himself is hesitant to join either franchise, or there’s an undisclosed significant reason, Vegas will likely eventually grant the necessary permissions.
“Ultimately, though, the league has indicated before that you better have a good reason for denying somebody permission, so unless Cassidy doesn’t want to coach the Oilers or the Kings sooner or later, unless there’s a good reason that we don’t know about, they’re going to have to grant permission.”
The unfolding situation involving Bruce Cassidy, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Los Angeles Kings is set to be a captivating storyline to follow.